Greece has unveiled its first national Maritime Spatial Plan (MSP), a long-awaited framework for managing human activity across its maritime territory, in a move hailed by the government as a milestone in environmental governance and geopolitical clarity.
The plan, which was formally announced on Tuesday, aims to balance economic development, environmental protection, and geopolitical interests. It comes nearly four years past the EU-mandated deadline — a delay for which Greece was condemned by the European Court of Justice earlier this year.
According to To Vima, the plan defines permitted marine activities across national waters, such as fishing, shipping, renewable energy projects, and conservation zones. It aligns with the EU’s 2014 Maritime Spatial Planning Directive and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), while also fulfilling key obligations under the European Green Deal.
“For the first time, Greece is setting the rules for organizing its maritime space,” said Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis and Environment and Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou in a joint statement. “This plan provides a comprehensive framework for sustainable development while clearly mapping human activities in our seas, always with respect for environmental protection.”
Not a definition of the EEZ
Officials stressed that the plan does not constitute a legal delineation of Greece’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), a subject of frequent regional contention. “The process of delimiting maritime zones — like the EEZ — is distinct from maritime spatial planning,” the Foreign Ministry said. “MSP is about how a country organizes human activity within its maritime zones to meet environmental, economic, and social goals. It does not replace official boundary agreements.”
Delayed, but significant
Critics argue that the plan should have been completed years ago. Greece and Croatia were the only EU member states that had failed to submit a national MSP before the March 2021 deadline. The European Court of Justice issued a formal ruling against Greece on February 27, 2025, for non-compliance.
Despite the delay, analysts say the MSP gives Athens a stronger platform for asserting maritime jurisdiction — particularly in contested waters of the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean.
Turkey’s reaction
Ankara quickly responded to the announcement. Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the plan as a “unilateral act” in a region it considers a “closed or semi-closed sea.” The move comes amid ongoing friction between the two NATO allies over maritime rights.
Just days prior, Turkey’s National Center for the Sea and Maritime Law (DEHUKAM) released its own academic framework for Turkish maritime spatial planning. DEHUKAM emphasized the strategy’s alignment with Ankara’s “Blue Homeland” doctrine, which seeks to expand Turkey’s maritime influence.
Diplomatic engagement continues, however. A meeting between Foreign Ministers Gerapetritis and Hakan Fidan remains scheduled for mid-May, in what officials hope will help maintain dialogue despite rising tensions.
Strategic implications
Experts say Greece’s move positions it more firmly within EU efforts to promote a sustainable blue economy, but also sends a message of intent in an increasingly contested maritime region.
“This is as much about climate and development as it is about sovereignty,” a senior Greek diplomat told To Vima. “We’re drawing the map — responsibly, but clearly.”
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